Konst: Arizona Democrats need to update plan to grow party base

by Nomiki Konst - Dec. 1, 2012 12:00 AMMy Turn

In a year when Democrats triumphed against the odds, Arizona Democrats blew it.

President Barack Obama built an historic victory by continuing the construction of a coalition of new voters. Nationally, Republicans lost because they didn't get this message -- but neither did the Arizona Democratic Party.

It's time to quash a widespread lie: Arizona is not a red state. Just like neighboring Western blue states, libertarian Republicans are being replaced by a new socially liberal and fiscally conservative voter.

Democrats lost opportunities to pick up a U.S. Senate seat and barely won its congressional -- not because the state is Republican leaning. Instead, because they couldn't engage voters, which is their job. We should be winning new seats, not defending seats already in our favor.

There were opportunities to expand our base in a state shifting our way, yet leaders played it safe. We could excite these voters through bold organizing and new candidates, yet the party ignores fresh ideas.

By investing resources in status quo candidates, the party embraces an Arizona of the past -- the Republican Arizona.

Look at party leadership -- the faces haven't changed in 30 years. And they cling to that 30-year-old perspective from Arizona's old Republican days.

This Tammany Hall strategy -- running closed campaigns with insider candidates -- does not reflect the voters Democrats represent. This is why the party is losing membership to that new independent bloc.

I saw this unabashed old boys attitude up close.

Pima County party chairman Jeff Rogers took tips from the GOP's playbook when he said, "Sweetie, start at school board." (How appropriate for a single woman sans children!)

I then reasoned how new candidates (like myself) could excite beyond our traditional base, but Mr. Rogers probably didn't hear me as he mumbled something about "youth" while abruptly walking across the room to fax something.

They weren't open to discuss much else, either. Like why their only message was aimed at scaring older "reliable" voters -- ignoring 76 percent of constituents.

State party chairman Bill Roe never even read my biography or answered my calls when I declared candidacy. And when I greeted him at the Democratic National Convention (I'm on the DNC Council), he thought I was an intern.

Sadly, I've heard similar stories from other new candidates who were ignored, discouraged and mocked by their own party. Not to mention stories from staffers forced to leave Arizona for better campaign opportunities. Supporters were even threatened to abandon my campaign for defying the party.

That's not a strategy for growing the party. Which is my point.

We can learn from this election. Americans yearn for courageous leaders.

Note how other states boldly elected Tammy Baldwin, the first openly gay senator, or disabled veteran Tammy Duckworth to Congress. Or how our own Kyrsten Sinema defied status quo, proving that dynamic leaders excite Arizonans.

Arizona can be a model for American progress. While the party establishment pushed me out of my race, I urge others to challenge status quo and run. We need you.

The Arizona electorate has entered the 21st century. When will the Arizona Democratic Party do the same?

Nomiki Konst was briefly a 2012 congressional candidate for Arizona's District 2.